3 U.S. Soldiers Were on Board the Black Hawk Helicopter That Collided Midair with American Airlines Plane: Report

An American Airlines plane carrying 64 passengers collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in D.C. on Wednesday, Jan. 29

Angel Saunders

29 January 2025 at 11:50 pm·2-min read

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Ronald Reagan Washington Airport crash, January 2025 — Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Ronald Reagan Washington Airport crash, January 2025

Three American soldiers were on board an Army aircraft that collided with an American Airlines airplane over Washington, D.C. Their current condition is unknown.

“No senior officials onboard the Blackhawk helicopter that crashed into American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport: U.S. Army official,” Jennifer Griffin, chief national security correspondent for Fox News, tweeted Wednesday, Jan. 29.

She added, “3 Soldiers were onboard the Blackhawk, according to Army.”

Reuters and ABC News also confirmed three soldiers were on the aircraft, citing U.S. officials.

PEOPLE reached out to the United States Army for comment.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Emergency response units conduct search and rescue for Army helicopter crash, January 2025 — Andrew Harnik/Getty
Emergency response units conduct search and rescue for Army helicopter crash, January 2025

“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available,” a US Army official said in a statement to CNN.

President Donald Trump, 78, also confirmed the news through his White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt via X: “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”

American Airlines Flight 5342, reportedly carrying 64 people, departed from Wichita, Kan., and collided with a helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. around 9 p.m. local time.

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Citing an Army official, The New York Times also reported it was an Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the midair crash.

This story is developing.

Read the original article on People

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